The Rocketeer is heading into the shadows this summer with a new espionage-driven adventure.
Arriving July 8, The Rocketeer: Infiltrator! comes from writer Gabriel Hardman and artist Dean Kotz, placing Cliff Secord in the middle of a World War II mystery. Allied aircraft are exploding midair, whispers of a Nazi superweapon are spreading, and Cliff and Betty Paige are going undercover to uncover the truth.
Hardman shared his excitement about working with the iconic character and stepping into the world created by Dave Stevens.
“I’m thrilled to have this chance to contribute to the legacy of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer,” he said. “I was first exposed to both the character and Stevens’ almost impossibly lush artwork when I picked up THE ROCKETEER ADVENTURE MAGAZINE from Comico at a comic shop as a teenager. It played directly into my love of pulpy storytelling of the 1930s and 1940s so having the chance to tell a tale in that world feels like a perfect fit for me. We’re adding a dose of wartime espionage into the mix as Cliff and Betty bring their unique skills to a mission to uncover a Nazi superweapon while using Betty’s acting career as a cover. Though they may lack experience in the spy game, they’ll have help from a dashing MI6 agent who unluckily for Cliff takes an amorous interest in Betty. I couldn’t be more excited about collaborating with artist Dean Kotz on this series. I’ve admired his work for years and this project is both a perfect fit for his style and an ideal story for us to collaborate.”
Kotz emphasized the mix of action and espionage that defines the series. “I’m so stoked to be working with Gabriel on THE ROCKETEER: INFILTRATOR!,” he said. “Gabriel is a master of pulp storytelling, and he’s cooked up an awesome spy thriller premise with so many fun things to draw. When Cliff’s not wearing his rocket zipping around WWII bombers and fighter planes, we get to see him out of his element in the shadowy world of international espionage. Meanwhile, Betty’s undercover on a glamorous movie set being romanced by a secret agent. This book hits all the perfect pulp notes.”
The new series arrives as interest in the franchise continues to grow, with The Rocketeer: The Island already earning strong praise. Editor Nicolas Niño pointed to how Infiltrator! leans into a different kind of Rocketeer story. “It’s a great year for The Rocketeer! THE ISLAND saw him travel to a fantastical island in search of Amelia Earhart, based on a story by Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens. It infused everything about the character that fans fell in love with, while opening the door for a new generation,” Niño said. “With INFILTRATOR!, Gabriel Hardman and Dean Kotz are telling a story that indulges the type of Rocketeer story a lot of readers love: one where he’s out of his element. For a guy with a highly-combustible rocket strapped to his back, going incognito is a nightmare we’ll love to pick up and read.”
The Rocketeer: Infiltrator! hits comic shops on July 8.
Betty Paige ? Tiens donc 